The 2010 program was the first of two facade improvement programs, said Mary Holton, Community Development Department director.

"We did have quite a bit of participation," Holton said.

One downtown business to participate was the Wal Art Gallery. A portion of the 2010 program's funds went toward paint, stucco and stone fixtures at the business' 422 West Main St. location.

The 2010 plan was split in two parts. The first budgeted $200,000 for facade improvements. The second budgeted $50,000 for streetscape improvements.

After offering two time extensions to individual facade projects, all of the remaining facade project agreements expired on Sept. 30, 2012, wrote Community Block Development Grant administrator, Jay Peterman in a memo to City Council and Mayor Tommy Roberts on Nov. 26.

"We're looking to identify some options," Holton said. "It would ultimately be up to Council what direction to take."

A possible option suggested in the Nov. 26 memo is to add the $76,549.11 to the streetscape portion of the project. A second option suggests shifting the funding into another eligible capital facility project proposed by the city. A third option suggests seeking new project proposals from the public through the request for proposal process.

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It appears that the left over funds need to be spent by summer 2013.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development will calculate its yearly timeliness standard for spending of Community Block Development Grant funds on Aug. 2, 2013.

"I was strongly supportive of the project to provide improvement to downtown buildings," Roberts said. "I was pleased to have several businesses participate, but I would have liked to have seen more participation."

Roberts said he is interested in seeing if any more downtown businesses will take up facade improvement funds.

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